We will pick you up at the Cusco airport and take you to your hotel. You will have some time to settle in, and then we will return at 1:00 pm to start the Cusco City Tour. We will begin the tour at the most important temple of the Inca Empire, the Sun Temple, known as the Qoricancha. Here, you can observe detailed and intact architecture, and within the temple you will see smaller temples dedicated to the moon, rainbow, stars, lightning and thunder, among others. Today, the Santo Domingo church stands on top of the temple. From there, we will go to an important religious site called Sacsayhuamán which features immense stones. Although the site was religious, the Spanish considered it a military fortress because of its location and the way it was built. Next, we will visit Qenqo, a site built in a natural rock formation which was created to represent the Andean constellations and the concept of the three worlds, each one representing sacred animals: the condor, puma, and snake. After that we will travel to Puka Pukara, which was a shelter for travelers coming to Cusco from the Amazon. It was also a military center and used to protect the nearby temple located at Tambomachay. Our last stop is Tambomachay, known as the Temple of Water, where the Incas practiced religious traditions tied to water in order to rejuvenate the land. This tradition is known as the fountain of eternal youth. From there, we will return to the city and drop you off at your hotel at around 6:00 pm.

We will pick you up at your hotel in Cusco at 8:00 am. In our private vehicle, we will head to one of the most important archaeological sites in the region, called Pisac, to see Inca burial grounds, ancient irrigation systems and astronomical centers. We will visit the ruins and terraces for about an hour, and after our tour here will then go down to the town of Pisac located at the bottom of the valley. In this town we will first stop by a local silver factory and will see a demonstration of how they process and form beautiful jewelry. Next, we will walk through the cobble-stoned street to the plaza to see locals selling produce and souvenirs in their stands. You will have some free time to browse and do some shopping here as well. After finishing our visit in Pisac, we will drive to the town of Urubamba to have a buffet lunch which includes both delicious Peruvian and Western cuisine. From there, we will head to Ollantaytambo where we will visit the ruins built up on terraces that features massive stones at the top. This site was an important religious and astronomical center, and was also used as a military fortress in one of the biggest battles the Incas had against the Spanish. After this, we will start to head back to Cusco, and on the way we will stop at another local village called Chinchero where we will see the remaining Inca buildings and terraces here that were important for the administration of farming. We will then return to Cusco and will drop you off at your hotel around 6:30 pm. We will then have your briefing for your hike and will go over the itinerary, provide you with your Therm-a-rest air mattress and pillow, and also give you a duffle bag that you can put in up to 8 kg (18 lbs) of your belongings to have the horses carry on the hike.

We will pick you up at 6:00 am from your hotel in Cusco and take a three-hour drive through the Sacred Valley and will stop in the small town of Calca where we can visit the local market. Then we will continue driving until we reach the start of the trail located in the town of Lares which is at 3,260 meters (10,695 feet). Here you can take a dip in the local medicinal hot springs to warm up your muscles for the hike. After enjoying the pools, we will have lunch right beside the hot springs. Then we will begin hiking and will trek for about 4 hours. We will first ascend for about 30 minutes before arriving to an area that is relatively flat. We will cross a small stream and continue through the valley until we reach the town of Wacawasi. We will see locals wearing traditional clothing that includes colorful ponchos and hats. After passing through the town we will ascend for about 40 minutes up the side of the mountain before reaching our first campsite which is located at 3,880 meters or 12,730 feet.

The next morning after having breakfast, we will continue to hike uphill for about 3 hours through the highlands until we reach the highest pass of the trail called Ipsayjassa at 4,450 meters (14,600 feet). As we hike to this pass, we will see llamas, alpacas and sheep grazing close by as well as traditional stone houses. At the pass, we will rest and have time to take in the incredible view before descending for about half an hour to a beautiful lake where we will have lunch. From there, we will continue hiking to our campsite for about 2 and a half hours. Our trail will have gradual ascents and descents as we make our way to the village of Patacancha. We will descend down to our next campsite passing by picturesque farmyards and houses. Our campsite sits at 3,700 meters or 12,140 feet, and here we will be able to meet a local family and perhaps even have the chance to try guinea pig if you choose!

The next day after eating we will take a local car for 40 minutes to Pallata, where we will hike about halfway up the mountain for about 30 minutes to the Inca ruins of Pumamarca. This site was used as administrative center for the area, and after touring the ruins and having time to explore we will continue hiking for about 3 hours around the mountain on a part that is relatively flat. Our trail will take us through a valley and then we will follow an old Inca Trail until we reach Inca terraces. We will then descend until we reach the bottom of the valley where we will follow a path along the river until we reach the town of Ollantaytambo, where we will have lunch. We will have some time to rest and then will say goodbye to our crew. Then in the afternoon we can visit the main plaza in the town and do a short hike to the Inca Colcas (storehouses) Hike which takes 1 hour in total. Then we will have dinner at a local restaurant and in the evening we will take the train to Aguas Calientes which takes about 2 hours. At Aguas Calientes we will take you to your hotel where you can check in and rest for the night.

After having an early breakfast at your hotel, you will meet your guide and take the 25-minute bus ride up to Machu Picchu. You will have a 3-hour tour with your guide where you will see and learn about the most important sites including the Inca Palace, Temple of the Sun, main plaza, Intiwatana, and other important temples. After your tour, you will take the bus back down to Aguas Calientes, and in the afternoon you will take the train back to Cusco where we will pick you up from the train station and drop you off at your hotel.

We will pick you up from your hotel in Cusco and take you to the airport for your departure flight.